Dr Michael Kendig
Adjunct Lecturer
BA (Psych) (Hons) 2011
MSc (University of Sydney) 2013
PhD (University of Sydney) 2017
Medicine & Health
School of Biomedical Sciences
My work examines how dietary factors impact cognition, metabolism and the gut microbiota. Major research streams include the cognitive effects of diets high in sugar; how environmental cues can prolong food intake beyond satiety; the effects of diet cycling; and the behavioural effects of maternal obesity.
E-mail
Location
Level 3 East, Wallace Wurth Building
School of Medical Sciences
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2020: Associate investigator on NHMRC Ideas grant ($400,372) APP2003686. Examining the metabolic and cognitive deficits caused by insulin resistance in the ventral striatum. CIA Dr Vincent Laurent.
2019: School of Medical Sciences Accelerator Grant ($10,000). Validating new methods of measuring diet-induced cognitive impairment.
2018: UNSW Medicine Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addictions Theme and SPHERE Clinical Academic Group seed funding ($19,926) to Morris, Eapen, Ooi, Kasparian & Kendig. Evaluating the Gut-Brain Axis in Autism.
2018: Ian Potter Foundation Knowledge and Learning/Conference grant ($5000). Funding to support travel expenses for two keynote speakers at the 2018 Australian Learning Group Winter Conference, held July 11th-13th, 2018, in Katoomba, NSW.
2018: Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant ($2400). Funding to support travel to Neuroscience 2018, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, held November 3rd-7th, in San Diego, USA.
2013-2016: Australian Postgraduate Research Award, University of Sydney (full-time scholarship for duration of PhD course; total value ~$78,000).
2013 – 2014: Alumni Scholarship, University of Sydney ($5,000). 1-year top-up scholarship awarded to highly-ranked commencing PhD candidates.
2019: Award for research excellence (Early Career Academic Staff), Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney.
2018: Best new researcher, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Sydney.
2017: Oral presentation award at New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis annual conference.
2017: Best student talk at Australian Learning Group Mid-Year Conference.
2014 and 2016: Postgraduate Publication Prize, School of Psychology, University of Sydney.
2021: Presenter & moderator at School of Medical Sciences Brain Awareness Week of ‘NeuroEthics’
2021: Invited presentation to industry start-up founders at ‘Upside Founder Programs’
2019: Guest editor of May newsletter for the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
2019: Article for Nutrition Australia: “Sugar drinks fall flat”
2019: Article in The Conversation: “Health check: can eating certain foods make you smarter?”
My Research Supervision
PhD students (co-supervisor)
Mr. Md Jakir Hossain (PhD submitted) - effects of diet and type 2 diabetes on peripheral neuropathy
Ms. Aynaz Seyed Tajaddini (2019-) - effects of maternal obesity on offspring behaviour
Mr. Michael Leong (2019-) - contrasting obesity- and diabetes-associated changes to the liver
Honours/ILP
Mr. Roger Xie (2019-2020; H1 SoMS Honours) - effect of diet cycling on the liver
Ms. Ching Ho (2019; ILP; H1 equivalent) - comparing continuous and restricted access to cafeteria-style diet
Ms. Sahana Nandakumar (2020; ILP; H1 equivalent) - insights from animal models of binge eating
Ms. Arya Shinde (2021; SoMS Honours) - dietary influences on anxiety-like behaviour
Ms. Nipuni Hapangama (2021; ILP Honours) - effects of maternal obesity on brown fat in offspring
Undergraduate interns
Ms. Briony Wijeyaratne (2020; NEUR3211 research internship)
ECR mentor for PATH3205 (2020)
Ms. Mushka Kaye (2018; SOMS3001 research internship)
Ms. Jemma Rezitis and Ms. Sindu Sritharan (2018; NEUR3221 research internship)